The Priesthood

Readings:

The Prophet Joseph Smith
Defining the Melchizedek Priesthood
Teachings,  p. 166

... the Melchizedek Priesthood ... holds the highest authority which pertains to the priesthood, and the keys of the Kingdom of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth; ...

[the Melchizedek Priesthood] is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation and every important matter is revealed from heaven.  Its institution was prior to the "foundation of this earth...", and [it] is the highest and holiest Priesthood, and is after the order of the Son of God, and  all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and blessings belonging to the same, and are held, controlled, and directed by it. ...

[the Melchizedek Priesthood] is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing His glory at the beginning of the creation of the earth, and through which He has continued to reveal Himself to the children of men to the present time, and through which He will make known his purposes to the end of time.

Pres. Brigham Young
Blessings and Privileges of the Priesthood
Discourses, p. 49

The Priesthood of God, that was given to the ancients and is given to men in the latter days, is co-equal in duration with eternity--is without beginning of days or end of life. It is unchangeable in its system of government and its Gospel of salvation. It gives to Gods and angels their supremacy and power, and offers wealth, influence, posterity, exaltations, power, glory, kingdoms and thrones, ceaseless in their duration, to all who will accept them on the terms upon which they are offered.

The Orders of the Priesthood (D&C 107:1, 5-8, 18-20)

Priesthood Organization of the Church (D&C 107:21-27, 30)

Elder Orson Pratt
Insights on Functions of Priests and Kings
The Seer 1:10 (October 1853)

The Priesthood of God is the great supreme, legal authority that governs the inhabitants of all redeemed and glorified worlds. ...

The Kingly authority is not separate and distinct from the Priesthood, but merely a branch or portion of the same.

The Priestly authority is universal, having power over all things; the Kingly authority until perfected is limited to the kingdoms placed under its jurisdiction: the former appoints and ordains the latter; but the latter never appoints and ordains the former: the first controls the laws of nature, and exercises jurisdiction over the elements, as well as over men; the last controls men only, and administers just and righteous laws for their government.

Where the two are combined and the individual perfected, he has almighty power both as a King and as Priest; both offices are then merged in one. The distinctions then, will be merely in the name and not in the authority; either as a King or a Priest, he will then have power and dominion over all things, and reign over all. Both titles, combined, will then not give him any more power than either one singly. ...

Kings who rule over the different nations, and kings who rule under God in eternity are different functions. The former king has no priesthood, while the latter king holds a fullness of the priesthood.

Dictionary Definitions for Power and Authority

      Power

• The ability or official capacity to exercise control
• Capability of acting or of producing an effect
• A delegated right or privilege; a prerogative
• A position of ascendancy

     Authority

• The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, or judge
• Power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge or experience
• Confidence derived from experience or practice
• Public [agent] with delegated power over others

Authority implies the granting of power for a specific purpose and within a carefully delineated frame of reference; it may also refer to the influence derived from public sanction

Notice that these definitions for power and authority strongly suggest action (i.e. exercise, operate), knowledge, and process (experience, practice)

• A means of access, control, or possession
• Something that serves to reveal or solve a problem, difficulty, or mystery
• Spiritual authority in a Christian religion

To hold a "Key" suggests the possession of a "permission" to perform specific labors using the priesthood

It also implies the possession of a "mechanism" that may help "unlock" hidden knowledge, or mysteries (D&C 84:19; 107:19-20)

Insights on the Oath and Covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood:
Dictionary Definitions for Key Terms:  Receive, Magnify, Let, Learn, Distil

     To Receive  (D&C 84:35-38)

• To take or acquire something that is given, offered, or transmitted
• To have something (like a title) bestowed upon oneself
• To hear or see; to meet with; to experience
• To have inflicted or imposed; to bear the weight or force of
• To admit; to greet or welcome
• To perceive or acquire mentally
• To listen to and acknowledge formally and authoritatively

    To Magnify  (D&C 84:33)

• To increase the importance of
• To cause to be held in greater esteem or respect
• To make greater; to intensify

• Characterized by wonderful achievements
• Having dignity or stateliness (i.e. formality, or elevated style)
• Brilliant;  Splendid;  Noble
• Impressive to the imagination;  Inspiring
• Exceptionally fine

      To Let  (D&C 107:99)

• To make or cause
• to allow or permit

      To Learn  (D&C 107:99)

• To gain knowledge--or understanding of, or skill in--by study, instruction, or experience
• To develop an ability to or readiness for by practice, training, or repeated experience
• To memorize

     To Distil  (D&C 121:45)

• To send or pour forth in small quantities; to let fall or precipitate in drops
• To subject to or to transform by distillation
• To obtain an extract by distillation; to make concentrated by abridgment and purification or by the extraction of an essential or typical portion

• The process of driving off vapor from liquids or solids by heating and then condensing once again into liquid
• Process used for purification, fractionation (D&C 6:2; 33:1), or the formation of new substances

This web page was published only as a support for classroom discussion.
For more information, contact Dr. Marcus Martins at: martinsm@byuh.edu